From my friend and colleague, Ms. Chye-Ching Huang.  Whenever someone mentions a Kiwi*, she takes note (e.g., the Phillips curve from A.W. Phillips?  He was a New Zealander–who knew??)  Recently, I noted how much I like the NZ hit, Royals (link below)–a great, kind of spacey, jazzy jam with impressionistic lyrics and Lorde’s just-rolled-out-of-bed voice.  But even while she notes her distance from her roots, CC still manages to go a bit deeper into the NZ pop catalogue:

As an expat Kiwi, I feel I should give you some terrific New Zealand music for this Friday interlude.  But I’m currently a terrible judge of New Zealand music; a touch of homesickness means that to me even NZ’s most mediocre pop standards sound/feel magnificent.  (I called an NZ bank a couple of weeks ago and was put on hold for a time. The NZ 90’s pop playing made for the most emotional banking experience I’ve ever had.)  However, even more objective observers seem to like what Kiwis are doing now: the Booker prize just went to Eleanor Catton’s “Luminaries” and Lorde’s “Royals” is everywhere.  I’m sure you’ve heard” Royals; I prefer her “Team”.  [I endorse this preference!–JB]

For a bonus in case you’re curious about 90’s NZ hip-hop (why wouldn’t you be?) here’s a classic: Che Fu’s “Chains,” protesting against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.

*Hold your fire, PC brigade–that’s not a slur…it’s like calling someone from the US a “yank.”  I think.